The Photo History Museum at FUJIFILM SQUARE is pleased to announce "An Exhibition of Photographs by UCHIDA Kuichi − mid-19th Century Photographer," which will run from March 1 − August 31, 2011.

UCHIDA Kuichi (1844-1875) was the most prominent photographer of the final years of the Edo period and the beginning of the Meiji period. He was the first photographer to capture images of Emperor Meiji,the leading figures in the final turbulent days of the Edo period, the warriors who took part in the Meiji Restoration and senior officials of the Meiji government. He was also among the first to take photographs of Tokyo and many other locations around Japan.

This exhibition is divided into three separate parts, all of which display carefully selected valuable historical photos taken by UCHIDA Kuichi.

Visitors will be able to marvel at the artistry of one of Japan's foremost photographers and witness firsthand some of Japan's most valuable photographic records of historic events and personalities.

Part 1 − First landscape exhibition focused on the Kanto region (March 1 − April 28, 2011)
Part 2 − Portraits of the leading figures of the final days of the Edo period and the early Meiji period (April 29 − June 30, 2011)
Part 3 − Second landscape exhibition focused on Kyushu and western Japan (July 1 − August 31, 2011)

Born in Nagasaki in 1844, and lost his parents at an early age. Studied chemistry under Dutch physician Johannes Pompe van Meerdervoort, and later learned photography from MAEDA Genzo, a member of the Fukuoka clan, and others. In 1865, he opened a photo studio in Osaka, and later opened studios in prime locations in Yokohama and Tokyo. In 1872, he was requested by the Imperial Household Agency to accompany Emperor Meiji on his first tour of Japan, and utilized the opportunity to take photos of various well-known national landmarks. UCHIDA took photos of Emperor before the Imperial tour commenced and again the following year. He rose to further prominence for capturing and selling images of the popular kabuki actors of the day, and amassed enough wealth to build himself a luxury residence in the Kanda Surugadai district of Tokyo. However, before he could move in, he contracted pulmonary tuberculosis and passed away at the age of only 32.